Portland Public Schools picks superintendent finalist from Atlanta

Saturday, March 4, 2017

Donyall Dickey

Portland Public Schools named Donyall Dickey, the chief schools officer and chief academic officer in Atlanta Public Schools, as the sole finalist for superintendent. The Portland School Board will vet Dickey over the next several weeks, including a visit to Atlanta. If satisfied, the board will hold an official vote on Dickey’s appointment, to be effective July 1.

The board praised Dickey for his leadership in turning around underperforming schools and his commitment to equity. Atlanta’s school system has only slightly more students than Portland, and it is predominantly African-American and low income. Before Atlanta, Dickey was a regional superintendent in Philadelphia. He has taught grade school and high school and been a principal.